Long-term use of drugs affecting the renin-angiotensin system and the risk of cancer. A population-based case-control study

Jesper Hallas, Rene Depont Christensen, Morten Andersen, Søren Friis, Lars Bjerrum

47 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims A recent meta-analysis of clinical trials has demonstrated a small excess of cancers in persons who had been allocated to angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). We undertook this observational study to look at dose-response and dose-duration effects and look for specificity with respect to outcome. Use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) was included in the main analysis since ACEIs share pharmacological properties with ARBs. Methods We identified 149417 incident cancer cases in Denmark during the period 2000-2005. Four controls, matched by age and gender, were selected for each case by a risk-set sampling. Data on medication were retrieved from the Danish National Prescription Registry. We defined long term exposure as at least 1000 defined daily doses redeemed within the past 5 years. Confounders were controlled by conditional logistic regression. Results The odds ratio (OR) associating long term drug use with incident cancer was 1.12 (95% CI 1.06, 1.18), 1.17 (95% CI 1.14, 1.20), 1.23 (95% CI 1.20, 1.26), 1.18 (95% CI 1.14, 1.22), 1.25 (95% CI 1.22, 1.28), 1.37 (95% CI 1.21, 1.54), 1.29 (95% CI 1.22, 1.37) for ARBs, ACEIs, calcium channel blockers, β-adrenoceptor blockers, thiazide diuretics and α-adrenoceptor blockers. No consistent dose-duration or dose-response association could be demonstrated for ARBs or ACEIs. Conclusions The indication or possibly threshold for prescribing antihypertensives appears to be related to a small increase in cancer risk. The ARB-cancer association is probably too weak to be addressed in observational studies, given their limitations.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Supplement
Volume74
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)180-188
Number of pages8
ISSN0264-3774
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2012

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